Letter: Pope positives

AT LAST, an outbreak of positive thinking has started to surround the Pope's visit to Edinburgh on 16 September (your report, 1 September).

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop is right to stress that the proposed St Ninian's Day parade gives Scotland a chance to present itself to the world in a favourable light. It would be wrong, though, to see the significance of the Papal visit simply in terms of a carnival or tourist potential and media coverage.

The presence of the pontiff will mean a lot in the way of private devotion to hundreds of thousands of Catholics. Other individuals may wish to protest about Pope Benedict and the approach of the Church to various issues. The management of dissent is just as important as the projection of a positive image of the country.

The visit does take place in the year that is the 450th anniversary of the Reformation. Those who believe the event has done a lot to shape the character of Scotland deserve to be heard too. Those who believe the Church is wrong in its approach to family values and paedophile priests are entitled to put their point in a civilised way. The country should be judged as much on the way it handles peaceful protest as it does in providing hospitality to visiting heads of state.

Most Catholics will want to avoid controversy and appreciate the Papal visit in terms of their own quest for inner peace.

But government and local authorities need to act sensitively in coping with any clash of traditions and beliefs. That is an even more important challenge than the colourful presentation of the country on the international stage.

Bob Taylor

Shiel Court

Glenrothes